Ed Cox is the current director of the International Mission Board’s International Prayer Strategy Office. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and considers Grand Prairie, Texas, his hometown. He is married to the former Debbie Odom, and they have a grown son, Jeremy, and daughter, Jennifer.

 

He received the B.S. degree in psychology from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Belton, Texas, and the Master of Religious Education degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas. He attended Baylor University, Waco, Texas; Oklahoma Baptist University, Shawnee, Oklahoma; University of Bordeaux, France; University of Cambridge, England; and received a diploma in Christian studies from Spurgeon’s College, London. 

 

Prior to being appointed an IMB missionary in 1983, he served as youth and music minister in several churches in Texas and Oklahoma. After missionary appointment, he served as a student worker at the University of Bordeaux, France; church planter and country strategy coordinator in Bordeaux; Field Associate Area Director for Western Europe, based in Wiesbaden, Germany; and Regional Leader for Western Europe.

 

Ed’s seven years as regional leader saw him traveling extensively as he served as pastor, mentor, counselor, administrator and friend to approximately 400 IMB colleagues ministering in Western Europe.  His local ministry was among the Iranian Diaspora in Wiesbaden, Germany.

 

On July 1, 2004, Ed became the director of the International Prayer Strategy Office at the IMB’s home office in Richmond, Virginia.  He values the opportunity to encourage and equip Southern Baptists to intercede effectively for IMB personnel, their ministries, and the millions of lost souls around the world. His vision for Southern Baptists is “a praying people impacting a lost world.”